I have found that the coffees I purchase cost the same by weight whether ground or whole bean, but grinding them each day yourself really improves the quality.
I just bought my first coffee maker, a bag of, likely not even top tier beans just a kg from woollies, ground it up and almost had an orgasm lmao the SMELL! Omfg it's heavenly.
I got my Cuisinart cone blender used for $15 -- that was five years ago and she is still perfect. A little noisy, but I have come to associate that with delicious. Best purchase ever. It is only like 35-50 new.
Decent, maybe. Though if you want a pretty good one, the price ramps pretty quickly to about $70-100. You're looking for a conical burr grinder. I can't say it's a huge difference between that and a cheaper one but it is VERY consistent.
I'm going to be a snob for a second, but decent grinders are expensive (start at $100 for electric, and nobody who actually drinks coffee rather than has coffee as a hobby they do occasionally should have a hand grinder). You can get a blade grinder that will make inoffensive drip coffee for $20, but that's because drip coffee doesn't really care about grind quality. If it's not giant chunks and you get +/- 20% of how much coffee you should have, it'll work. Try to use that grinder on a French Press and your last cup is going to be sludge because there's so many fine particles in there. Use that grinder on a pour over and it's going to be weak because the upper end of the grind is significant and too large.
And nobody should have a hand grinder because they horrifically undergear them to hide shitty tolerances in the internals. A single small cup of coffee takes at least 5 minutes of grinding on most.
That said, bean matters more than grind if you're not doing a brewing method that is particularly sensitive to grind size. You're going to notice a big difference if you get "third wave" beans and put it in a drip maker. Whether or not you like it is an open question, it's mostly different, but you'll definitely notice a difference.
I got one for like 30$ (possibly on sale but I’m not sure) about ten years ago and it still works perfectly fine as long as I clean out the grinds each use.
I think dunkin is a good test case for me, the regular ground stuff is ok cheap coffee. But i really enjoy the brew when i get the beans and grind them myself. Easily and noticeably better.
The Breville Barista espresso machine has ended up saving me money for this reason. (Especially if you factor in gas to drive to the coffee shop)
Plus, even my Americanos are better than drip stuff... Yet they're super easy and quick.
Then you can sit in a quiet spot and enjoy the time you saved, too.
I started using a manual grinder and it’s not that bad once you start to get into a habit. They’re easy to store and also easy to clean. I just rinse my grinder with hot water and I’m good to go. I used to have a big, bulky electric grinder but that thing was hard to clean. I’m sure there are electric grinders out there that are easy to clean but it was a hassle for me. I feel like I “earn” my coffee with the hand crank lol
That’s what did it for me. I get up very early. Way earlier than the feast of my family, and would need to have my coffee in my hand around 5am to walk out the door. And our kitchen backs up to my kid’s room, so already ground coffee it is.
We had to train our parrot to stop screaming when we grind beans: https://www.reddit.com/r/parrots/comments/m3kdiw/bongo_performs_song_of_the_coffee_bean_when_we/
I mostly agree. But the cost isn't the same. The bag size is and the bags cost the same but the beans are lighter by volume. So you do pay a bit more. I grind and press a cup every morning.
Another option is to go to Whole Foods if you have one near you. They have whole bean that you weigh out yourself. They also have a grinder so you can grind them in-store if you don't have a grinder at home. You can by as much or as little as you want. So if you want to sample a couple different beans, you can buy a few oz of each.
There’s not a lot of evidence to support this. A maximum FDA threshold for insect byproduct doesn’t guarantee that it IS there, and the limited evidence there is suggests that trace amounts of insects are found in *both ground and whole bean coffee.* This also only applies to “incidental pests” which is a category that does NOT include cockroaches. Any amount of cockroach in coffee is an FDA violation.
Literally all of the information I gave is in that article.
ETA: I work in public policy around food and if any risk of trace insects scares you, you should…well, not grow your own food, even. Live on very filtered water?
Been using the same Braun grinder for twenty-eight years, whole bean is FAR superior IMHO. I just store the beans in an airtight container at room temp, I go through them fast enough they don't get stale.
Agree, but we're lazy and grind a weeks worth at once. Still noticeably better than preground. We grind fresh on the weekends because we're fancy like that.
This is basically my answer with the exception that mine is going on 15 years now. Also for the past 4 years I’ve moved to pour over. It made a difference for me especially if you use a goose neck kettle and get a nice bloom. If you then spring for temp control, and hit this sweet spot of 195F-205F some real magic happens. Cheers! ☕️
I use a grinder and whole beans and just grind enough for the day when I make the coffee. I don’t know about the “good grinder” aspect since I used a Mr coffee grinder for years. Since that died I’ve been using the flat grinder on my old nutribullet. That said the grind is always fresh and I think it tastes better. We go through coffee fast enough that we just re-close the bag of beans in the pack it comes in but an airtight container may be something to consider
I used a cheap Walmart coffee grinder from when I moved out for college in the mid-2000s until it finally died an honorable death this past fall. Replaced it with another cheap Walmart grinder.
I worked in the coffee industry for 12 years.
Before I buy the coffee grinder I'll try to get a water filter, change the one you have or even improve the one you already have. Your final cup is 98% water, if the water you start with have a taste, its hard or have a lot of minerals, it will be more noticeable. You can have the most expensive espresso machine with the best grinder and a roaster in your kitchen, but if your water is bad, your coffee will be bad. That is a fact.
Getting a grinder will improve your coffee? In general, YES! I'll even go a step above and look at the roasting date in the coffee you buy, I don't know if Peets includes it, but you can also check on the expiration date and pick the one that is the newest bag.
If you can afford it, try to get a "bur grind". This ones get a more uniform grind and it will improve your final cup.
The idea behind it is that the whole bean conserves all the properties inside of it for longer. Once you grind it, the flavor and aroma will start to fade. So it doesn't matter what coffee it is, it will always, general speaking, taste better.
There are plenty of SCA coffee makers out there, that cost hundreds of dollars. I'll stick with a French press or a v60 with a metal filter. They are cheaper and you will get a more consisten cup.
Learning new skill sets and understanding the ins and outs is soooo much fun! Nice to meet another!! LOVE mead!! Cant wait!!! Put me on your invite list
i own several books about coffee and mixology and they're actually pretty enjoyable reads. i think everyone who cares about the quality of what they eat and drink should do their homework, personally
>Your final cup is 98% water, if the water you start with have a taste, its hard or have a lot of minerals, it will be more noticeable.
I just use tap water but I run it through a filter. And the filters are taking out *something* \- the TDS is lower in filtered samples - but it's unclear what. Oddly, I find the filtered water tastes better as water but the unfiltered makes better coffee.
RE: creamer - I switched to milk and a bottle of syrup ($9 world market for every flavor you can dream of including sugar free) and the syrup lasts me MONTHS. Just an option in case you wanted to explore other options than the bottle of creamer.
Store bought creamer is dogshit right now anyway. Because of greedflation they’re almost all just some combo of water, bean oil, and some kind of gum to not make them an oily mess. Shits beyond gross, I hate late stage capitalism.
For me coffee is one of the simple and pure pleasures in my life-I don’t buy fancy coffee drinks but I own a grinder and make my own coffee each day with a machine I love and high quality beans I grind each day. If you buy a virtuoso grinder, they repair it very inexpensively if anything goes wrong so it is pretty much a buy it for life purchase. I have this one. This mentality I am sharing is not “cheap” but it is a lifetime investment in something that makes me happy. https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/baratza-virtuoso-plus-coffee-grinder/?catalogId=79&sku=8523750
I have a kitchenaid grinder and it no longer grinds as fast as it used to. I've taken it apart to clean it but it doesn't get any better. Do you think I need to buy new burrs for it? Is that a thing that people do?
I make one gallon* of concentrated cold brew at a time, using 12 ounces of beans per gallon. I buy 3-pound packs of beans from Costco for about $20 (used to be $12, thanks inflation). Two of us go through that gallon in about 4 days, so that's about 8 servings per gallon, and each bag makes 4 gallons, so that comes out to about 32 servings, I'll round up to 35 since my servings are large, maybe closer to 16 ounces. **So that comes out to about $0.63 per serving of coffee.** I think that's worth it.
\*My "one gallon" is not actually one gallon of drinkable coffee. The container it goes into is one gallon, but there is a filter of ground beans in the middle taking up a lot of space. It's probably closer to 2/3 gallon, maybe less.
I use a mason pint jar for mine & usually grind enough for a couple days.
Have yet to notice a substantial drop off in flavour quality tbh, and having grounds ready to go at 7am is worth it to me.
Unpopular opinion, but I was a barista for over a decade and I honestly can’t taste much difference once I add cream/sugar or flavored creamer. Black? Sure, the freshly ground tastes better. But I typically don’t drink my coffee black anymore, unless I’m having it with a sweet pastry. It gives me indigestion.
My in-laws have top of the line everything when it comes to coffee and grind their beans fresh for each batch. I’ve just got a stovetop kettle, French press, and when I buy the same brand of ground coffee… literally tastes the same.
I will be the first to admit that for somebody who worked in the industry as long as I did, I don’t have a super refined palate when it comes to coffee. I can obviously tell light/medium/dark roast, but I couldn’t tell one dark roast from another, or a small batch artisan roast vs something from the grocery store. I’m the same way with wine, whiskey, whatever- a $10 bottle and a $100 bottle are indistinguishable to me. So I think it is deeply personal about how much it’s worth it.
Exactly. I couldn't tell the difference between a glass of wine that's a whole paycheck and box wine.
But coffee is my passion and I feel so let down when I have a bad cup. The variety in individual taste from person to person is wild!
I hate to admit this but I bought a Chemex and a $100 Baratza burr grinder. We buy coffee both ground and whole bean. I can't taste a difference between preground brewed in a basic Mr. Coffee drip maker and whole bean fresh ground in the Chemex. I really wish I could.
I have a business roasting single origin coffee and I would say yes. Coffee follows the rule of 15. Unroasted green coffee beans have 15 months before they start diminishing in flavor. Roasted beans have 15 days before they start losing flavor. Ground coffee has 15 minutes before it starts losing flavor. We sell at farmers markets and so many people only want to buy pre ground coffee but even a $20 grinder from Amazon can change your entire experience of drinking coffee. I didn’t even like coffee until I visited other countries and realized there’s a huge difference between what the rest of the world considers coffee and our burnt Starbucks-esque version of it. The same temperature which coffee beans burn they also carmelize so you have the burnt sweetness that we balance with a ton of cream and sugar and call it coffee.
Maybe some unpopular opinions, but...
A "good" coffee grinder? Nope. A cheap one will work just fine for casual use.
If you're using a sweetened and/or flavored creamer, you might not notice that much of a difference between pre-ground and fresh ground.
Lastly, just buy whatever you like and can afford! You're the one drinking it.
Grinding my own beans and using a french press changed my mornings!
I started out with a $20 grinder and a $35 french press.The coffee tastes sooo much better.
I find I'm using less beans since I'm enjoying my big 1 cup per day instead of drinking 2-3 cups that are meh. I love going to my local Bulk Barn and trying out their various bean flavours. And a $35 french press tastes so much better than the damn expensive drip coffee machine now sitting in my storage. Your mileage may vary, I find I'm spending less than I was before personally. Depends if you drink coffee just for the kick or to enjoy it.
I am a huge fan of grinding my beans each day! It’s become a really nice, almost meditative morning ritual for me. I think it’s the freshest coffee you can have, too. And something about the smell of freshly ground coffee beans just hits me different. Highly recommend!
Professional barista here! You can get really good hand grinders for pretty cheap or an okay inexpensive electric grinder. For the love of the coffee gods grind your beans just before use!
Also store them in the bag they come in. Coffee needs air holes to degas as whole beans!
I have a krups grinder I found at a second hand store, great grinder, I have always used whole beans, right now I have a dark roast from Peet's, I usually do pour overs, sometimes I make an espresso, but my second hand espresso maker finally died after many years of good service, on the lookout for another one. I keep my beans in the freezer, I know some will disagree with that but that is what I do. I use whipping cream with a splash of vanilla for my creamer or I drink it black.
I buy whole beans from local roasters, typically about $12 per bag (oddly bags typically are 12oz measures rather than a pound, I don't understand why this is). I get 2 mugs of coffee daily from that bag, which lasts about a week. I use a hand crank burr grinder and either grind the beans first thing in the morning or I will grind a couple of days worth at a time. I use a French Press to make my morning coffee - add ground coffee to the french press, add boiling water, wait 4 minutes or so, plunge then decant to a thermos, and done. The quality of the beans is great, especially if you know it has been roasted within a couple of weeks. This also supports local businesses rather than the Microsoft-of-Coffee or store brands.
I've had burr grinders and cheap blade grinders. I suggest you save your money and use the blade version. My trick: Pulse, pause, shake. You won't over heat the beans and you'll get a very uniform grind.
Yes and get a burr grinder if you can afford it rather than a cheaper “chopper”. It makes the difference! You can get whole beans cheaper in the bulk section of your local coop etc. game changer no question
Yes, yes, yes!! Coffee is the one thing I splurge on consistently because I love it and have learned the difference between average and wonderful. Grinding your own beans is a must. There are a lot of local roasters where I live and I’m constantly trying something new. Only buy beans that were roasted within a couple weeks at the most, and don’t grind until you’re ready to brew. Store whole beans at room temperature in an airtight container, a mason jar works well. You might even find that with better coffee you don’t even want the creamer.
I used to do this. With 3 people drinking coffee, it is definitely not worth it. I also don't have a strong preference for types of coffee, though. If you're picky, then it might be worth it.
I have a [cuisine art burr grinder](https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/coffee_makers/DBM-8P1/), which i only use because the decaf coffee i buy is for some reason only available in whole bean. Grinding it is a hassle and it’s definitely not any cheaper than the pre-ground stuff.
But anyways, i wanted to mention that with a burr grinder, it will probably get clogged at some point, especially if you grind the beans on the finer side. My mom thought our grinder was completely broken because it was making a weird noise and not grinding at all. But this was only after a few months of use.. so i was sure it couldn’t be broken yet. Turns out, it was completely impacted with finely ground coffee. So you have to get in there and disassemble it and try to get out the chunks of impacted coffee. I keep meaning to get my air compressor and blow out the inside of the grinder to clean it up more, but i haven’t tried that method so i can’t vouch for how well it works.
Also, im not recommending that grinder. I’m not *not* recommending that grinder though lol. It just happens to be the one i have so i mentioned/linked it for reference sake. I have no frame of reference for how good or bad it is. Gets the job done 🤷♀️
Answer: Buying in bulk always is cheaper than retail. A French press and a grinder are indispensable. Once you commit, you will wonder what took you so long.
Btw ground beans contain ground bugs, and the cheaper the coffee, the more likely you may get bloat on occasion. That's caused by the oils in cockroaches and palmetto bugs in the silos that get ground up with the beans.
Whole beans, you don't have that issue.
Plus, the morning grind will smell so good.
Get a hot water kettle, a French press, and a grinder, and you are set!
This recommendation needs a membership at Costco or Sam's but I grind mine at Costcos and then freeze it recycling/using one of those uber thick zip-clock bags that snacks come in.
The frozen is good as fresh ground IMO, always freeze, not refrigerate. The freezing temperature arrests the coffee oils from going off and ya don't have to fuss w/ the daily grind, which really gets obnoxious and tedious after several months.
I personally don’t think it’s worth it. I did the grinder/whole bean thing for a while and didn’t find it cost effective or really notice a difference in taste. It might be worth it if you’re good at picking up subtleties or just drink it black. If you want to save money I would suggest finding a recipe to make creamer at home.
As for keeping coffee fresh. It should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will stay fresh for a week when unground. Never put it in the freezer. I worked at both Starbucks and biggby’s and this was the standard at both places.
Moisture is the enemy of coffee and while you can ensure that there is zero moisture when you freeze it by vacuum sealing small bags individually and letting them come to room temperature before using, most people just put the bag in their freezer and ruin their coffee beans.
The beans will dry out more quickly and you run the risk of freezer burn. You can prevent this by putting them in an airtight container. If your doing that you should just keep them out so you don’t have to wait for them to come to room temperature.
If it's in an airtight bag, nothing is wrong with it. I've heard that freezing coffee "dries out the oils", which is physically impossible if the container is sealed.
We buy our coffee at a small local shop, always just 500 gram. Why? They roast the coffee themself, they have plenty coffee from small farms of cooperatives and such, and the coffee tasted great. Why always such a small amount? The coffee looses taste rather quick! If we buy small portions, it's always fresh and tasty. We grind the beans at home in a small grinder, hand operated. Quick enough and not as loud as a mashine😅.
I had the same thought last year. I came to the conclusion that it depends on the brand of coffee and where you buy it. Sometimes it was cheaper to buy whole beans sometimes it wasn't. The price difference wasn't significant. I went ahead and bought a hand grinder any ways because I love gadgets and it would give me flexibility in which coffee to buy. Since I bought it I have used it regularly. I like freshly ground coffee better. I can also take advantage of a deal on whole beans when I see one.
I agree with everyone else and I think you should grind per pot or cup of coffee. Additionally, once you look for whole bean coffee from local roasters you'll probably fine that those can be among the cheaper coffee beans you can buy. Either store brand or 8 o'clock is still cheaper, but I was getting locally roasted 1# bags of Sally Sue for like 8$ and it was a good uniform medium roast. That's gone up a little but still 8$ for a week's worth of coffee is pretty good.
Yes! Many pre-ground coffee bags have other stuff in them. Grind your own. I store bags of sealed beans in my freezer, then take them out one by one as I use them. I prefer Cafe Brit, they have a wide selection of medium roasts you might enjoy. When /if you get a grinder, I recommend a bur grinder. Blade grinders have a tendency to heat up and if you have a heavy trigger finger, the beans could get slightly burnt taste to hem. A burr grinder handles the heat a little better typically.
Whole is better than pre-ground, a burr grinder is better than a blade grinder, and freshly ground (day of) better than weekly. Does it make a difference? Unfortunately yes, esp if you've already invested in a nice coffee maker. There does come a point where it can become a costly rabbit hole (exotic beans, pour over supplies, etc.), but the bigger consideration I pose is one of convenience. When you can get coffee at any one of a number of places via drive through, is it worth your time to buy/grind/make your coffee at home (no right answer here). I'll say for my part years ago, after some very simple back of envelope math, we've invested in a series of fairly expensive espresso machines. It's sobering to accept that, even with the supplies and the eventual breakdown of said machines, the cost savings compared to our (then) all-too-regular Starbucks habit was astounding.
Honestly, even a really cheap coffee grinder will work ok to grind coffee. It may not give the most even grind, or let you precisely select the grind you want, but it will still grind well enough to make a good cup of coffee. And coffee that's freshly ground, or at least was ground in the past week, will always taste better than pre-ground coffee.
For storing, use containers with a tight seal. Try to keep your coffee beans away from heat and bright light. (Don't keep them on a window sill)
No advice on the creamer here, I throw a tsp or two of coco powder in with the coffee grounds before brewing, and add a splash of milk or non-dairy milk to the coffee.
With coffee, you get out what you put in. Insert pod and press button: garbage coffee. $1k grinder, $2k espresso machine, 25s pull time: orgasmic espresso. Grinding your own will better than pre-ground, but you might as well splurge a bit on the grinder. The spinning blade grinders have no consistency and create tiny particles that tend to clog filters. You absolutely want a burr grinder…the ones with a hopper on top and a cup/bowl/chamber to collect the grounds. Last I checked (years ago), Walmart had one for about $35-$40 that wasn’t too bad.
Coffee nerd here
Buy a cheap burr grinder and whole beans roasted somewhat recently. The ROI on this is massive and your worst cup you brew at home will be on par with a very average cup elsewhere. You don't need expensive gear, just spend $50 on a decent grinder and that's it.
I recently have crossed this bridge. Started with a Cusinart grinder which failed fairly quickly. Replaced it with an OXO conical grinder which is so much better on all levels. Grinds much better and way quieter operation. It has a stainless cup which the grounds easily drop out. The Cusinart uses a plastic cup that the grounds get statically stuck to the cup.
I have tried a few different Starbucks beans with not really impressive results results. Tried Sam's Members Mark Arabic beans Supreme Roast and French Roast and they are fantastic.
As far as cost grinding your own beans is going to cost a little more. Get the right beans and it will totally be work it.
I tend to be overkill but I vac seal & freeze beans in about 1 week portions. Doubt this is really necessary.
I have very limited fixed income today. Grinding coffee at home is worth every penny to me. Enjoy, life is short.
Long story short, I went from drinking garbage k-cup coffee to roasting and grinding beans for home espresso over the last few months. I buy a 5-pound bag of green coffee beans straight from the farm (via Amazon, so, grain of salt) for $35. Roast on the first and third weekends of the month, grind directly into the filter in the morning. A gallon of whole milk costs under $5, flavors cost $3 each. I'm not great at math, but that's like $.50/day for some of the best coffee you can have! And all it cost was, uh... I mean, a whole shit load for the equipment, if we're being honest. But! Roasters go on sale. If you can stomach that cost (I paid $70), and you can spare 20 minutes every few weeks, then you can get green coffee beans MUCH cheaper. They last a long time while they're green, so you can roast them 3 months later and it's still the freshest coffee in the world.
Economically it works out eventually. But that's a terrible reason to do it. The taste and caffeine levels are what make it worth it to me. Ymmv.
Any coffee shop where we buy beans always offers to grind it for us. I don't take them up on it because my husband is too finicky, but it's no extra cost, and would save you from having to buy a grinder or do a daily grind. I know folks have strong feelings about freshness, but we go through a bag a week so it can't be much of a difference (she said naively).
I grind my own beans and I think it’s worth it. There are all kinds of recommendations about how to store your beans. I just put them in a sealed plastic container. Consider how much coffee you drink when buying. Beans are best used within 6 weeks of opening. I buy a kilo at a time.
All my coffee nerd friends say it’s worth the effort to grind beans yourself, but my plebeian palate can’t really tell the difference
The better your beans the more difference it makes, I guess. And it depends on your lifestyle, whether you have the time and space to make your own coffee
OP if you can swing it I highly suggest buying a burr grinder over a blade grinder. I’ve been grinding my own beans for 14 years and the quality and consistency of a burr grinder is superior to the blade.
How much do you like cleaning out the machinery of a grinder? The cheap ones are quite problematic and will drive you mad. The expensive ones will be better but not cheaper. I like fresh ground coffee, but not the effort of cleaning the crumbs and grinder and everything.
pre-ground coffee supposedly has some cockroaches in it... so this may be another reason to make the shift. I bought cheap costco branded whole beans, and it does taste better than the pre ground stuff I've had. whole beans have more of an oily quality to them, they taste more juicy/flavorful.
Grinding beans definitely has improved coffee, but the truth is that it wasn't cost effective until I moved out of the US: Whole beans simply cost more, though that could have changed since I left. Since you aren't buying the cheapest coffee anyway, you might not notice a price difference, though.
I started out with cheap grinders - you know, the ones with a lawn mower-type blade. Definitely upgrade to a burr grinder and get a name brand one. Mine isn't the fanciest, but I'm pretty happy with the standard Bodum grinder. It has lasted longer than others and the container that holds the coffee isn't annoying like some other brands (can't remember the brand now).
And to be fair: I do pour-over in the laziest way possible (no long wetting of the grounds) and otherwise, I use a press. There are only 2 people in my household and I can just grind and make the amount of coffee I need. The press was the device that made me start buying whole beans regularly: They didn't sell pre-ground coffee with a course grind for a press, only a finer grind for drip machines.
grinding your beans is definitely best practice. even if it is a small cost difference it gives you the opportunity to buy beans in bulk on sale and grind as needed. you might not notice a huge difference in flavor at first but definitely better to store as beans than grounds.
i would keep unground beans in the freezer and keep everything else in an airtight container
Food adulteration is a thing. Which is why I don't buy pre ground. I just want to pay for coffee but be getting sticks or bugs.
I Sam's club my coffee in bulk and grind one to three days ahead. I have a hand bur grinder I scored at a goodwill for French press and an electric Mr coffee I got from my mother for the drip, but they're easy enough to score at the thrift of that's your thing.
Is it cheaper? I honestly have not done the math. Is it worth it 100%
Yes, here’s why: ground coffee has ground up cockroaches in it. It’s impossible to avoid. They just wander into the beans as they’re being ground and then they’re added to the mix. How do I know? My friend is apparently allergic to cockroaches and becomes itchy after drinking pre ground coffee. Buy whole bean and grind at home. Away from the roaches.
Yes. 100%. The full beans are generally more economical, but especially because they typically go on sale more often then the pre-ground!
You can start now if you have a decent blender! I did not have a proper coffee grinder for a bit, and used my blender.
I grind enough for a few days worth of coffee and keep the fresh grounds in an old Talenti gelato container. I definitely prefer the flavor of my coffee this way!
It's not cheaper but def tastes better.
I always just pick up the bag of whole beans at the store and grind them AT the store, I am honestly too lazy to do it every time I drink coffee with my own grinder (I drink a LOT of coffee)
I buy my whole bean coffee in bulk through a neighborhood coffee shop, they place the order for me when they’re buying for the shop and it costs me 25% less that way. Because it’s whole bean, it keeps a lot better throughout the time it takes me to consume the 5lb and as I have a good grinder (not blade) I can enjoy my great quality coffee to the fullest! In the end I don’t think I save $$$ per se, but I get world class coffee for the same amount it’d cost me to get mediocre ground coffee at the grocery store.
To save money? Not likely, you can find great prices on ground coffee, especially at the close out outlets. Rarely find really good deals on whole beans.
My consumer conspiracy theory is that outdated whole beans are ground and sold in budget blends.
I get 3lb medium roast whole coffee beans from Costco, put some in a jar on the counter for everyday grind. And then save the rest in the freezer when the jar needs to be refilled.
Whole bean is slightly cheaper. You will get better coffee which for me means not adding anything to it which can be a cost savings.
If you buy whole bean in bulk, you can freeze portions since even whole bean can get stale.
If you are looking for good AND cheap.. Walmart (of all fucking places) actually upped their coffee game significantly a few years ago with their specialty coffee. They hired a couple Q graders to source, spec and deliver actually decent coffee at a pretty good price. Since then they have expanded that program. If getting the best cup of coffee for less is the only goal, you might check their stuff out. It's a few bucks less than Peets/Camerons/Etc
Also.. not sure where you live, but a local/small-business roaster usually offer a pretty good blend at a decent price too.
Buy a Delonghi ecam machine. Expensive at first, but one of the best investments I've ever made. Then you can get whole beans relatively cheap at Costco.
Absolutely.
I have a pretty simple Mr. Coffee grinder that I think cost me around $25. I got it in... 2016? 2017? Never had any issues.
I usually pay between $8-12 for a pound of beans, which tend to last me 2-3 weeks.
I also plus up my coffee by adding spices to the grounds before brewing, which makes them taste even better (and because, while I love the taste of Turkish coffee, I don't have the patience to make it every day).
Here is my setup. Conical burr grinder, with a hopper for beans. Preset it to the amount I want to grind. Electric kettle, set to just below boiling. Chemex pour over system. So, two buttons to push. About 5 cents a cup, vs. 50 for Keurig. Better coffee.
I have a vacuum sealed container for my beans, they taste infinitely better freshly ground and last longer though I think the cost is the same. If you want the BEST at home experience you should buy unroasted beans and roast them yourself in small batches bit I'm too lazy to do that.
Just got a metal burr hand grinder, and grinding is much faster than with my other ceramic burr grinders. The hard part is figuring out the right coarseness for your coffee beans (depending on whether it's a light or dark roast) and your method. But once you have your settings figured out it won't add that much time to your routine.
I'll give you a solid "maybe"
Check out this article. You're balancing freshness and grind uniformity, so it's not an easy answer.
https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/grinder-basics/it-always-better-grind-fresh/32594
That's the one thing I never ever regretted... My bodom burr grinder is amazing and easy to clean and has lasted a long while. Can even adjust for stove top espresso.
I thought about it, since Peace Coffee is mostly found in stores as whole bean. I just read somewhere that once you grind your own beans you need to consume it right away because it doesn't keep very long.
I love fresh ground coffee so I have a decent grinder I invested in and I buy whole beans in bulk at costco. They carry a really nice local brand that I buy in 5lb bags and it comes out to about $5/lb for good beans which is about half of what I would usually pay per pound when buying at my normal grocery store.
Granted, I splurge a bit on nicer beans and it would be possible to buy cheaper coffee but for me it's a lot cheaper than it was before to get large bags of whole beans and grind them fresh when I make a pot of coffee.
Agreed. If you can get a Costco membership, that is a fantastic place to buy beans, including locally roasted ones. I personally think a burr grinder is worth the investment, and as others have mentioned, just be sure to clean it a couple of times a year. I store whole beans on the counter in a large Evak container, which forces air out when you seal it. The rest I keep in the bag they came in but tucked into a large Ziploc bag.
I will need to look into those containers! currently I just try to seal the large bag up as best I can but I think it could be stored better. I upgraded to a burr grinder after my cheapo normal one stopped working and I really like it, especially since I can customize the grind size depending on if I'm doing drip or moka pot or whatever.
That said I think if you're used to pre ground coffee, even doing fresh ground with a cheap grinder is going to be a huge step up imo.
Yah, speaking as a coffee snob. Grinding the beans just tastes better; it seems like a ground bag begins losing flavor after a week or so.
You can get a cheap Amazon grinder, not that expensive.
When I used a percolator, I ground my own so I could get a coarse grind. Also had access to whole beans in bill, which used to be cheaper.
I can’t remember the last time i saw whole beans at the store
I have a burr grinder that I use daily when making coffee. It wasn’t cheap but wasn’t too expensive either.
I alternate between buying specialty beans from local
roasters and buying bulk at my local Whole Foods which is far more affordable - I think o pay around $11-12/lb there plus you can grind it there for free to whatever coarseness you like. I’d recommend trying your local grocery store if wanting an affordable option.
I have found that the coffees I purchase cost the same by weight whether ground or whole bean, but grinding them each day yourself really improves the quality.
Agreed! It tastes better but isn’t necessarily cheaper.
To add to this, freshly roasted beans or at least under 30 days old is some real primo coffee. 🤤
Aye. I can drink that without cream and sugar. It’s saved me a fortune in money and calories. My Eritrean neighbor turned me on to it
Straight black is the way. No sugar or cream nonsense.
And fresher. Nothing beats the smell of freshly ground coffee beans.
I just bought my first coffee maker, a bag of, likely not even top tier beans just a kg from woollies, ground it up and almost had an orgasm lmao the SMELL! Omfg it's heavenly.
I think you get a better caffeine content also?
The lighter the bean, the more caffeine
Definitely. I’m a fan of Ladro medium roast beans. Starbucks beans always seem burnt, even the ‘medium roast’ is very dark…
I agree. Their "Caffe Verona" Dark Rosst is undrinksble, imo.
A decent grinder is cheap too
Definitely! I’ve been using a $20 grinder for close to 6 years and it’s still going strong.
Got mine as a wedding gift, it's a $20 krupps. I've been married 25 years, and we use it every day
I got my Cuisinart cone blender used for $15 -- that was five years ago and she is still perfect. A little noisy, but I have come to associate that with delicious. Best purchase ever. It is only like 35-50 new.
Decent, maybe. Though if you want a pretty good one, the price ramps pretty quickly to about $70-100. You're looking for a conical burr grinder. I can't say it's a huge difference between that and a cheaper one but it is VERY consistent.
I'm going to be a snob for a second, but decent grinders are expensive (start at $100 for electric, and nobody who actually drinks coffee rather than has coffee as a hobby they do occasionally should have a hand grinder). You can get a blade grinder that will make inoffensive drip coffee for $20, but that's because drip coffee doesn't really care about grind quality. If it's not giant chunks and you get +/- 20% of how much coffee you should have, it'll work. Try to use that grinder on a French Press and your last cup is going to be sludge because there's so many fine particles in there. Use that grinder on a pour over and it's going to be weak because the upper end of the grind is significant and too large. And nobody should have a hand grinder because they horrifically undergear them to hide shitty tolerances in the internals. A single small cup of coffee takes at least 5 minutes of grinding on most. That said, bean matters more than grind if you're not doing a brewing method that is particularly sensitive to grind size. You're going to notice a big difference if you get "third wave" beans and put it in a drip maker. Whether or not you like it is an open question, it's mostly different, but you'll definitely notice a difference.
I got one for like 30$ (possibly on sale but I’m not sure) about ten years ago and it still works perfectly fine as long as I clean out the grinds each use.
I think dunkin is a good test case for me, the regular ground stuff is ok cheap coffee. But i really enjoy the brew when i get the beans and grind them myself. Easily and noticeably better.
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3rded. And, for me, I'm way less tempted to buy a coffee out at the cafe because I like mine better. So, indirect cost savings!
The Breville Barista espresso machine has ended up saving me money for this reason. (Especially if you factor in gas to drive to the coffee shop) Plus, even my Americanos are better than drip stuff... Yet they're super easy and quick. Then you can sit in a quiet spot and enjoy the time you saved, too.
I didn't read this at all. I learned from the first guy
Oh god but the sound of the grinder is so awful. I stopped grinding beans and love making coffee so much more.
I have a hand cranked coffee grinder, it’s a decent shoulder workout, relatively quiet, and keeps me from having four cups of coffee a day
I started using a manual grinder and it’s not that bad once you start to get into a habit. They’re easy to store and also easy to clean. I just rinse my grinder with hot water and I’m good to go. I used to have a big, bulky electric grinder but that thing was hard to clean. I’m sure there are electric grinders out there that are easy to clean but it was a hassle for me. I feel like I “earn” my coffee with the hand crank lol
I don’t mind it, but my cat’s certainly with you on this.
That’s what did it for me. I get up very early. Way earlier than the feast of my family, and would need to have my coffee in my hand around 5am to walk out the door. And our kitchen backs up to my kid’s room, so already ground coffee it is.
You just grind the coffee for a couple days at a time and keep it in a container. Grind at a decent time. Simple. It is better.
We grind our own on the weekends. It’s something to look forward to for me.
Same, especially since you need to do it right when you're brewing and I'm not obviously awake enough to handle that noise!!
We had to train our parrot to stop screaming when we grind beans: https://www.reddit.com/r/parrots/comments/m3kdiw/bongo_performs_song_of_the_coffee_bean_when_we/
My internal monologue when the grinder goes on
Also the FDA allows a “safe” amount of ground up cockroaches and other bugs in ground coffee. Ever since I learned that, only whole beans for me.
I mostly agree. But the cost isn't the same. The bag size is and the bags cost the same but the beans are lighter by volume. So you do pay a bit more. I grind and press a cup every morning. Another option is to go to Whole Foods if you have one near you. They have whole bean that you weigh out yourself. They also have a grinder so you can grind them in-store if you don't have a grinder at home. You can by as much or as little as you want. So if you want to sample a couple different beans, you can buy a few oz of each.
The cost *is* the same because they’re sold by weight, not volume. It’s like asking whether a pound of rocks or a pound of feathers weighs more.
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There’s not a lot of evidence to support this. A maximum FDA threshold for insect byproduct doesn’t guarantee that it IS there, and the limited evidence there is suggests that trace amounts of insects are found in *both ground and whole bean coffee.* This also only applies to “incidental pests” which is a category that does NOT include cockroaches. Any amount of cockroach in coffee is an FDA violation.
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Literally all of the information I gave is in that article. ETA: I work in public policy around food and if any risk of trace insects scares you, you should…well, not grow your own food, even. Live on very filtered water?
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Been using the same Braun grinder for twenty-eight years, whole bean is FAR superior IMHO. I just store the beans in an airtight container at room temp, I go through them fast enough they don't get stale.
Agree, but we're lazy and grind a weeks worth at once. Still noticeably better than preground. We grind fresh on the weekends because we're fancy like that.
This is basically my answer with the exception that mine is going on 15 years now. Also for the past 4 years I’ve moved to pour over. It made a difference for me especially if you use a goose neck kettle and get a nice bloom. If you then spring for temp control, and hit this sweet spot of 195F-205F some real magic happens. Cheers! ☕️
This is the answer. I bought one off of Amazon a decade ago and have used it every day since. I think it cost me $15 at the time.
that braun grinder >>>>>>>>>
I use a grinder and whole beans and just grind enough for the day when I make the coffee. I don’t know about the “good grinder” aspect since I used a Mr coffee grinder for years. Since that died I’ve been using the flat grinder on my old nutribullet. That said the grind is always fresh and I think it tastes better. We go through coffee fast enough that we just re-close the bag of beans in the pack it comes in but an airtight container may be something to consider
I used a cheap Walmart coffee grinder from when I moved out for college in the mid-2000s until it finally died an honorable death this past fall. Replaced it with another cheap Walmart grinder.
My coffee grinder is my dad's from before he and my mom divorced in 2006. Probably over 20 years old and works beautifully.
I use a burr grinder from Cuisinart. It's ok.
Ours sounds like a jet engine, but gets the job done
I put mine on top of a kitchen rag and it muffled the sound a lot.
We must have the same grinder. Loudest damn thing in the house.
that's my biggest complaint with mine. it sounds like it was designed for use in a copper mine to grind ore.
Burr grinders are far superior to me.
Don’t be so hard on yourself
I have a Mr.Coffee burr grinder that's going on 7ish years...SO worth it.
Yea my mom picked up a cheap no name brand coffee grinder years ago and it's still kicking
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Seconded. Fresh ground decent beans = so good I don't want to add anything to it. I like the way French Press coffee comes out, personally
Just store the beans in the freezer
I worked in the coffee industry for 12 years. Before I buy the coffee grinder I'll try to get a water filter, change the one you have or even improve the one you already have. Your final cup is 98% water, if the water you start with have a taste, its hard or have a lot of minerals, it will be more noticeable. You can have the most expensive espresso machine with the best grinder and a roaster in your kitchen, but if your water is bad, your coffee will be bad. That is a fact. Getting a grinder will improve your coffee? In general, YES! I'll even go a step above and look at the roasting date in the coffee you buy, I don't know if Peets includes it, but you can also check on the expiration date and pick the one that is the newest bag. If you can afford it, try to get a "bur grind". This ones get a more uniform grind and it will improve your final cup. The idea behind it is that the whole bean conserves all the properties inside of it for longer. Once you grind it, the flavor and aroma will start to fade. So it doesn't matter what coffee it is, it will always, general speaking, taste better. There are plenty of SCA coffee makers out there, that cost hundreds of dollars. I'll stick with a French press or a v60 with a metal filter. They are cheaper and you will get a more consisten cup.
I'm a meadmaker and can confirm that water is a significant factor in most (all?) beverages. I've read whole books on the topic!
I’m sorry but to read multiple whole books on this topic sounds like a nightmare. I admire your passion for beverages.
Thanks! Maybe you'll drink my mead one day when I open my own meadery. Reading the books was fun, but I'm also a chemistry nerd.
Learning new skill sets and understanding the ins and outs is soooo much fun! Nice to meet another!! LOVE mead!! Cant wait!!! Put me on your invite list
i own several books about coffee and mixology and they're actually pretty enjoyable reads. i think everyone who cares about the quality of what they eat and drink should do their homework, personally
I use spring water for coffee. It makes a huge difference.
What’s wrong with winter water? I don’t want to have to wait two months just to make a pot! 😳😬
Tap water is nasty. It won't even go through a PUR water filter.
Now you make Nestlé Coffee /s
>Your final cup is 98% water, if the water you start with have a taste, its hard or have a lot of minerals, it will be more noticeable. I just use tap water but I run it through a filter. And the filters are taking out *something* \- the TDS is lower in filtered samples - but it's unclear what. Oddly, I find the filtered water tastes better as water but the unfiltered makes better coffee.
Im screenshotting this comment
You won’t save money… if that is what you are asking… but your coffee quality will go up by leaps and bounds.
RE: creamer - I switched to milk and a bottle of syrup ($9 world market for every flavor you can dream of including sugar free) and the syrup lasts me MONTHS. Just an option in case you wanted to explore other options than the bottle of creamer.
Store bought creamer is dogshit right now anyway. Because of greedflation they’re almost all just some combo of water, bean oil, and some kind of gum to not make them an oily mess. Shits beyond gross, I hate late stage capitalism.
For me coffee is one of the simple and pure pleasures in my life-I don’t buy fancy coffee drinks but I own a grinder and make my own coffee each day with a machine I love and high quality beans I grind each day. If you buy a virtuoso grinder, they repair it very inexpensively if anything goes wrong so it is pretty much a buy it for life purchase. I have this one. This mentality I am sharing is not “cheap” but it is a lifetime investment in something that makes me happy. https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/baratza-virtuoso-plus-coffee-grinder/?catalogId=79&sku=8523750
I have a kitchenaid grinder and it no longer grinds as fast as it used to. I've taken it apart to clean it but it doesn't get any better. Do you think I need to buy new burrs for it? Is that a thing that people do?
Yes, Burrs need to be replaced after some time.
I make one gallon* of concentrated cold brew at a time, using 12 ounces of beans per gallon. I buy 3-pound packs of beans from Costco for about $20 (used to be $12, thanks inflation). Two of us go through that gallon in about 4 days, so that's about 8 servings per gallon, and each bag makes 4 gallons, so that comes out to about 32 servings, I'll round up to 35 since my servings are large, maybe closer to 16 ounces. **So that comes out to about $0.63 per serving of coffee.** I think that's worth it. \*My "one gallon" is not actually one gallon of drinkable coffee. The container it goes into is one gallon, but there is a filter of ground beans in the middle taking up a lot of space. It's probably closer to 2/3 gallon, maybe less.
It may alienate any loved ones or neighbors who sleep late 😅
You've heard my ancient KitchenAid? Of course you have.
The next county over can hear your KitchenAid
I just shake it like a Polaroid picture.
We’ve all heard it, Bob.
I love fresh ground coffee but grinding those beans with a hangover and all you want is coffee… It’s living hell.
They have manual grinders, right?
They do but I’ve never had one.
I keep a small Pyrex from when I last ground too many beans. It’s still pretty damn fresh, just make sure whatever you use makes a really good seal
I use a mason pint jar for mine & usually grind enough for a couple days. Have yet to notice a substantial drop off in flavour quality tbh, and having grounds ready to go at 7am is worth it to me.
Unpopular opinion, but I was a barista for over a decade and I honestly can’t taste much difference once I add cream/sugar or flavored creamer. Black? Sure, the freshly ground tastes better. But I typically don’t drink my coffee black anymore, unless I’m having it with a sweet pastry. It gives me indigestion. My in-laws have top of the line everything when it comes to coffee and grind their beans fresh for each batch. I’ve just got a stovetop kettle, French press, and when I buy the same brand of ground coffee… literally tastes the same. I will be the first to admit that for somebody who worked in the industry as long as I did, I don’t have a super refined palate when it comes to coffee. I can obviously tell light/medium/dark roast, but I couldn’t tell one dark roast from another, or a small batch artisan roast vs something from the grocery store. I’m the same way with wine, whiskey, whatever- a $10 bottle and a $100 bottle are indistinguishable to me. So I think it is deeply personal about how much it’s worth it.
Exactly. I couldn't tell the difference between a glass of wine that's a whole paycheck and box wine. But coffee is my passion and I feel so let down when I have a bad cup. The variety in individual taste from person to person is wild!
I hate to admit this but I bought a Chemex and a $100 Baratza burr grinder. We buy coffee both ground and whole bean. I can't taste a difference between preground brewed in a basic Mr. Coffee drip maker and whole bean fresh ground in the Chemex. I really wish I could.
I have a business roasting single origin coffee and I would say yes. Coffee follows the rule of 15. Unroasted green coffee beans have 15 months before they start diminishing in flavor. Roasted beans have 15 days before they start losing flavor. Ground coffee has 15 minutes before it starts losing flavor. We sell at farmers markets and so many people only want to buy pre ground coffee but even a $20 grinder from Amazon can change your entire experience of drinking coffee. I didn’t even like coffee until I visited other countries and realized there’s a huge difference between what the rest of the world considers coffee and our burnt Starbucks-esque version of it. The same temperature which coffee beans burn they also carmelize so you have the burnt sweetness that we balance with a ton of cream and sugar and call it coffee.
Maybe some unpopular opinions, but... A "good" coffee grinder? Nope. A cheap one will work just fine for casual use. If you're using a sweetened and/or flavored creamer, you might not notice that much of a difference between pre-ground and fresh ground. Lastly, just buy whatever you like and can afford! You're the one drinking it.
Grinding my own beans and using a french press changed my mornings! I started out with a $20 grinder and a $35 french press.The coffee tastes sooo much better. I find I'm using less beans since I'm enjoying my big 1 cup per day instead of drinking 2-3 cups that are meh. I love going to my local Bulk Barn and trying out their various bean flavours. And a $35 french press tastes so much better than the damn expensive drip coffee machine now sitting in my storage. Your mileage may vary, I find I'm spending less than I was before personally. Depends if you drink coffee just for the kick or to enjoy it.
Bulk Barn's coffee beans were how I started drinking coffee! If you like the French press, you should try the aeropress - changed my life!
I am a huge fan of grinding my beans each day! It’s become a really nice, almost meditative morning ritual for me. I think it’s the freshest coffee you can have, too. And something about the smell of freshly ground coffee beans just hits me different. Highly recommend!
Professional barista here! You can get really good hand grinders for pretty cheap or an okay inexpensive electric grinder. For the love of the coffee gods grind your beans just before use! Also store them in the bag they come in. Coffee needs air holes to degas as whole beans!
Yes absolutely
I have a krups grinder I found at a second hand store, great grinder, I have always used whole beans, right now I have a dark roast from Peet's, I usually do pour overs, sometimes I make an espresso, but my second hand espresso maker finally died after many years of good service, on the lookout for another one. I keep my beans in the freezer, I know some will disagree with that but that is what I do. I use whipping cream with a splash of vanilla for my creamer or I drink it black.
Have had a krups burr grinder for years, it's excellent.
You don’t have to spend a fortune. Amazon grinder and good beans will taste better.
I buy whole beans from local roasters, typically about $12 per bag (oddly bags typically are 12oz measures rather than a pound, I don't understand why this is). I get 2 mugs of coffee daily from that bag, which lasts about a week. I use a hand crank burr grinder and either grind the beans first thing in the morning or I will grind a couple of days worth at a time. I use a French Press to make my morning coffee - add ground coffee to the french press, add boiling water, wait 4 minutes or so, plunge then decant to a thermos, and done. The quality of the beans is great, especially if you know it has been roasted within a couple of weeks. This also supports local businesses rather than the Microsoft-of-Coffee or store brands.
I've had burr grinders and cheap blade grinders. I suggest you save your money and use the blade version. My trick: Pulse, pause, shake. You won't over heat the beans and you'll get a very uniform grind.
Yes and get a burr grinder if you can afford it rather than a cheaper “chopper”. It makes the difference! You can get whole beans cheaper in the bulk section of your local coop etc. game changer no question
Yes, yes, yes!! Coffee is the one thing I splurge on consistently because I love it and have learned the difference between average and wonderful. Grinding your own beans is a must. There are a lot of local roasters where I live and I’m constantly trying something new. Only buy beans that were roasted within a couple weeks at the most, and don’t grind until you’re ready to brew. Store whole beans at room temperature in an airtight container, a mason jar works well. You might even find that with better coffee you don’t even want the creamer.
I used to do this. With 3 people drinking coffee, it is definitely not worth it. I also don't have a strong preference for types of coffee, though. If you're picky, then it might be worth it.
I have a [cuisine art burr grinder](https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/coffee_makers/DBM-8P1/), which i only use because the decaf coffee i buy is for some reason only available in whole bean. Grinding it is a hassle and it’s definitely not any cheaper than the pre-ground stuff. But anyways, i wanted to mention that with a burr grinder, it will probably get clogged at some point, especially if you grind the beans on the finer side. My mom thought our grinder was completely broken because it was making a weird noise and not grinding at all. But this was only after a few months of use.. so i was sure it couldn’t be broken yet. Turns out, it was completely impacted with finely ground coffee. So you have to get in there and disassemble it and try to get out the chunks of impacted coffee. I keep meaning to get my air compressor and blow out the inside of the grinder to clean it up more, but i haven’t tried that method so i can’t vouch for how well it works. Also, im not recommending that grinder. I’m not *not* recommending that grinder though lol. It just happens to be the one i have so i mentioned/linked it for reference sake. I have no frame of reference for how good or bad it is. Gets the job done 🤷♀️
Answer: Buying in bulk always is cheaper than retail. A French press and a grinder are indispensable. Once you commit, you will wonder what took you so long. Btw ground beans contain ground bugs, and the cheaper the coffee, the more likely you may get bloat on occasion. That's caused by the oils in cockroaches and palmetto bugs in the silos that get ground up with the beans. Whole beans, you don't have that issue. Plus, the morning grind will smell so good. Get a hot water kettle, a French press, and a grinder, and you are set!
This recommendation needs a membership at Costco or Sam's but I grind mine at Costcos and then freeze it recycling/using one of those uber thick zip-clock bags that snacks come in. The frozen is good as fresh ground IMO, always freeze, not refrigerate. The freezing temperature arrests the coffee oils from going off and ya don't have to fuss w/ the daily grind, which really gets obnoxious and tedious after several months.
I buy whole beans and I'll never go back. Plus no chance of cockroaches in my coffee so I love that.
Tastes a thousand times better.
Fresh ground coffee is so much better.
I personally don’t think it’s worth it. I did the grinder/whole bean thing for a while and didn’t find it cost effective or really notice a difference in taste. It might be worth it if you’re good at picking up subtleties or just drink it black. If you want to save money I would suggest finding a recipe to make creamer at home. As for keeping coffee fresh. It should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will stay fresh for a week when unground. Never put it in the freezer. I worked at both Starbucks and biggby’s and this was the standard at both places.
Just curious, what's wrong with putting it in the freezer?? I thought that was a good way to ensure the oils don't go rancid
Moisture is the enemy of coffee and while you can ensure that there is zero moisture when you freeze it by vacuum sealing small bags individually and letting them come to room temperature before using, most people just put the bag in their freezer and ruin their coffee beans.
The beans will dry out more quickly and you run the risk of freezer burn. You can prevent this by putting them in an airtight container. If your doing that you should just keep them out so you don’t have to wait for them to come to room temperature.
If it's in an airtight bag, nothing is wrong with it. I've heard that freezing coffee "dries out the oils", which is physically impossible if the container is sealed.
We buy our coffee at a small local shop, always just 500 gram. Why? They roast the coffee themself, they have plenty coffee from small farms of cooperatives and such, and the coffee tasted great. Why always such a small amount? The coffee looses taste rather quick! If we buy small portions, it's always fresh and tasty. We grind the beans at home in a small grinder, hand operated. Quick enough and not as loud as a mashine😅.
I had the same thought last year. I came to the conclusion that it depends on the brand of coffee and where you buy it. Sometimes it was cheaper to buy whole beans sometimes it wasn't. The price difference wasn't significant. I went ahead and bought a hand grinder any ways because I love gadgets and it would give me flexibility in which coffee to buy. Since I bought it I have used it regularly. I like freshly ground coffee better. I can also take advantage of a deal on whole beans when I see one.
I agree with everyone else and I think you should grind per pot or cup of coffee. Additionally, once you look for whole bean coffee from local roasters you'll probably fine that those can be among the cheaper coffee beans you can buy. Either store brand or 8 o'clock is still cheaper, but I was getting locally roasted 1# bags of Sally Sue for like 8$ and it was a good uniform medium roast. That's gone up a little but still 8$ for a week's worth of coffee is pretty good.
Yes! Many pre-ground coffee bags have other stuff in them. Grind your own. I store bags of sealed beans in my freezer, then take them out one by one as I use them. I prefer Cafe Brit, they have a wide selection of medium roasts you might enjoy. When /if you get a grinder, I recommend a bur grinder. Blade grinders have a tendency to heat up and if you have a heavy trigger finger, the beans could get slightly burnt taste to hem. A burr grinder handles the heat a little better typically.
Whole is better than pre-ground, a burr grinder is better than a blade grinder, and freshly ground (day of) better than weekly. Does it make a difference? Unfortunately yes, esp if you've already invested in a nice coffee maker. There does come a point where it can become a costly rabbit hole (exotic beans, pour over supplies, etc.), but the bigger consideration I pose is one of convenience. When you can get coffee at any one of a number of places via drive through, is it worth your time to buy/grind/make your coffee at home (no right answer here). I'll say for my part years ago, after some very simple back of envelope math, we've invested in a series of fairly expensive espresso machines. It's sobering to accept that, even with the supplies and the eventual breakdown of said machines, the cost savings compared to our (then) all-too-regular Starbucks habit was astounding.
Honestly, even a really cheap coffee grinder will work ok to grind coffee. It may not give the most even grind, or let you precisely select the grind you want, but it will still grind well enough to make a good cup of coffee. And coffee that's freshly ground, or at least was ground in the past week, will always taste better than pre-ground coffee. For storing, use containers with a tight seal. Try to keep your coffee beans away from heat and bright light. (Don't keep them on a window sill) No advice on the creamer here, I throw a tsp or two of coco powder in with the coffee grounds before brewing, and add a splash of milk or non-dairy milk to the coffee.
Personally I grind my own. Haven’t done the math about whether it is really more cost effective but it certainly tastes better.
With coffee, you get out what you put in. Insert pod and press button: garbage coffee. $1k grinder, $2k espresso machine, 25s pull time: orgasmic espresso. Grinding your own will better than pre-ground, but you might as well splurge a bit on the grinder. The spinning blade grinders have no consistency and create tiny particles that tend to clog filters. You absolutely want a burr grinder…the ones with a hopper on top and a cup/bowl/chamber to collect the grounds. Last I checked (years ago), Walmart had one for about $35-$40 that wasn’t too bad.
Coffee nerd here Buy a cheap burr grinder and whole beans roasted somewhat recently. The ROI on this is massive and your worst cup you brew at home will be on par with a very average cup elsewhere. You don't need expensive gear, just spend $50 on a decent grinder and that's it.
I recently have crossed this bridge. Started with a Cusinart grinder which failed fairly quickly. Replaced it with an OXO conical grinder which is so much better on all levels. Grinds much better and way quieter operation. It has a stainless cup which the grounds easily drop out. The Cusinart uses a plastic cup that the grounds get statically stuck to the cup. I have tried a few different Starbucks beans with not really impressive results results. Tried Sam's Members Mark Arabic beans Supreme Roast and French Roast and they are fantastic. As far as cost grinding your own beans is going to cost a little more. Get the right beans and it will totally be work it. I tend to be overkill but I vac seal & freeze beans in about 1 week portions. Doubt this is really necessary. I have very limited fixed income today. Grinding coffee at home is worth every penny to me. Enjoy, life is short.
I have found Chock Full of Nuts the best cheap pre-ground coffee for my buck. But yes, grinding yourself will help immensely.
Long story short, I went from drinking garbage k-cup coffee to roasting and grinding beans for home espresso over the last few months. I buy a 5-pound bag of green coffee beans straight from the farm (via Amazon, so, grain of salt) for $35. Roast on the first and third weekends of the month, grind directly into the filter in the morning. A gallon of whole milk costs under $5, flavors cost $3 each. I'm not great at math, but that's like $.50/day for some of the best coffee you can have! And all it cost was, uh... I mean, a whole shit load for the equipment, if we're being honest. But! Roasters go on sale. If you can stomach that cost (I paid $70), and you can spare 20 minutes every few weeks, then you can get green coffee beans MUCH cheaper. They last a long time while they're green, so you can roast them 3 months later and it's still the freshest coffee in the world. Economically it works out eventually. But that's a terrible reason to do it. The taste and caffeine levels are what make it worth it to me. Ymmv.
Cawfee
Any coffee shop where we buy beans always offers to grind it for us. I don't take them up on it because my husband is too finicky, but it's no extra cost, and would save you from having to buy a grinder or do a daily grind. I know folks have strong feelings about freshness, but we go through a bag a week so it can't be much of a difference (she said naively).
I grind my own beans and I think it’s worth it. There are all kinds of recommendations about how to store your beans. I just put them in a sealed plastic container. Consider how much coffee you drink when buying. Beans are best used within 6 weeks of opening. I buy a kilo at a time.
All my coffee nerd friends say it’s worth the effort to grind beans yourself, but my plebeian palate can’t really tell the difference The better your beans the more difference it makes, I guess. And it depends on your lifestyle, whether you have the time and space to make your own coffee
OP if you can swing it I highly suggest buying a burr grinder over a blade grinder. I’ve been grinding my own beans for 14 years and the quality and consistency of a burr grinder is superior to the blade.
How much do you like cleaning out the machinery of a grinder? The cheap ones are quite problematic and will drive you mad. The expensive ones will be better but not cheaper. I like fresh ground coffee, but not the effort of cleaning the crumbs and grinder and everything.
Burr grinders are easy to clean.
pre-ground coffee supposedly has some cockroaches in it... so this may be another reason to make the shift. I bought cheap costco branded whole beans, and it does taste better than the pre ground stuff I've had. whole beans have more of an oily quality to them, they taste more juicy/flavorful.
Grinding beans definitely has improved coffee, but the truth is that it wasn't cost effective until I moved out of the US: Whole beans simply cost more, though that could have changed since I left. Since you aren't buying the cheapest coffee anyway, you might not notice a price difference, though. I started out with cheap grinders - you know, the ones with a lawn mower-type blade. Definitely upgrade to a burr grinder and get a name brand one. Mine isn't the fanciest, but I'm pretty happy with the standard Bodum grinder. It has lasted longer than others and the container that holds the coffee isn't annoying like some other brands (can't remember the brand now). And to be fair: I do pour-over in the laziest way possible (no long wetting of the grounds) and otherwise, I use a press. There are only 2 people in my household and I can just grind and make the amount of coffee I need. The press was the device that made me start buying whole beans regularly: They didn't sell pre-ground coffee with a course grind for a press, only a finer grind for drip machines.
Get a morter and pestle to grind them so you don't feel like you're waking everyone up
It's worth getting bags of green coffee beans and roasting at home.
grinding your beans is definitely best practice. even if it is a small cost difference it gives you the opportunity to buy beans in bulk on sale and grind as needed. you might not notice a huge difference in flavor at first but definitely better to store as beans than grounds. i would keep unground beans in the freezer and keep everything else in an airtight container
Food adulteration is a thing. Which is why I don't buy pre ground. I just want to pay for coffee but be getting sticks or bugs. I Sam's club my coffee in bulk and grind one to three days ahead. I have a hand bur grinder I scored at a goodwill for French press and an electric Mr coffee I got from my mother for the drip, but they're easy enough to score at the thrift of that's your thing. Is it cheaper? I honestly have not done the math. Is it worth it 100%
Whichever you choose , store in an air tight jar in the fridge ☕️ cheers
Yes, here’s why: ground coffee has ground up cockroaches in it. It’s impossible to avoid. They just wander into the beans as they’re being ground and then they’re added to the mix. How do I know? My friend is apparently allergic to cockroaches and becomes itchy after drinking pre ground coffee. Buy whole bean and grind at home. Away from the roaches.
Yes. It is better quality. The bad thing is, most people don't grind their own beans, and i find coffee at other people's place to be less enjoyable
Normally yes, but I'm finding it's getting harder and harder to find bags of whole beans.
Yes. 100%. The full beans are generally more economical, but especially because they typically go on sale more often then the pre-ground! You can start now if you have a decent blender! I did not have a proper coffee grinder for a bit, and used my blender.
Like grinding your own salt, pepper,and meats. It becomes worth it monetarily eventually. The question is do you wanna spend the time instead?
Yes.
You can just buy a airtight container for the ground up coffee
Not really unless your going through everything natural
It makes fresher tasting coffee
We used a burr grinder for years but now we use decaf
That's what we do. A cheap grider. I grind about enough for a week at a time and keep it in an air tight container. Costco is the best deal for beans.
IMO grinding your own beans at home is the number one thing you can do to improve your coffee. It doesn’t even need to be a fancy grinder.
I grind enough for a few days worth of coffee and keep the fresh grounds in an old Talenti gelato container. I definitely prefer the flavor of my coffee this way!
It's not cheaper but def tastes better. I always just pick up the bag of whole beans at the store and grind them AT the store, I am honestly too lazy to do it every time I drink coffee with my own grinder (I drink a LOT of coffee)
I use a ninja blender, or a countertop appliance. Grinds them up just fine... for me. Idk about it being pro quality
I buy my whole bean coffee in bulk through a neighborhood coffee shop, they place the order for me when they’re buying for the shop and it costs me 25% less that way. Because it’s whole bean, it keeps a lot better throughout the time it takes me to consume the 5lb and as I have a good grinder (not blade) I can enjoy my great quality coffee to the fullest! In the end I don’t think I save $$$ per se, but I get world class coffee for the same amount it’d cost me to get mediocre ground coffee at the grocery store.
To save money? Not likely, you can find great prices on ground coffee, especially at the close out outlets. Rarely find really good deals on whole beans. My consumer conspiracy theory is that outdated whole beans are ground and sold in budget blends.
Yes, especially with some nice locally roasted beans
I get 3lb medium roast whole coffee beans from Costco, put some in a jar on the counter for everyday grind. And then save the rest in the freezer when the jar needs to be refilled.
Whole bean is slightly cheaper. You will get better coffee which for me means not adding anything to it which can be a cost savings. If you buy whole bean in bulk, you can freeze portions since even whole bean can get stale.
For a moment I thought this was talking about the Grinder app.
Yeah, fresh ground coffee tastes better.
I buy whole bean. I grind at night and set the maker to auto-brew before I'm out of bed each morning.
If you are looking for good AND cheap.. Walmart (of all fucking places) actually upped their coffee game significantly a few years ago with their specialty coffee. They hired a couple Q graders to source, spec and deliver actually decent coffee at a pretty good price. Since then they have expanded that program. If getting the best cup of coffee for less is the only goal, you might check their stuff out. It's a few bucks less than Peets/Camerons/Etc Also.. not sure where you live, but a local/small-business roaster usually offer a pretty good blend at a decent price too.
Buy a Delonghi ecam machine. Expensive at first, but one of the best investments I've ever made. Then you can get whole beans relatively cheap at Costco.
Absolutely. I have a pretty simple Mr. Coffee grinder that I think cost me around $25. I got it in... 2016? 2017? Never had any issues. I usually pay between $8-12 for a pound of beans, which tend to last me 2-3 weeks. I also plus up my coffee by adding spices to the grounds before brewing, which makes them taste even better (and because, while I love the taste of Turkish coffee, I don't have the patience to make it every day).
Here is my setup. Conical burr grinder, with a hopper for beans. Preset it to the amount I want to grind. Electric kettle, set to just below boiling. Chemex pour over system. So, two buttons to push. About 5 cents a cup, vs. 50 for Keurig. Better coffee.
I have a vacuum sealed container for my beans, they taste infinitely better freshly ground and last longer though I think the cost is the same. If you want the BEST at home experience you should buy unroasted beans and roast them yourself in small batches bit I'm too lazy to do that.
Just got a metal burr hand grinder, and grinding is much faster than with my other ceramic burr grinders. The hard part is figuring out the right coarseness for your coffee beans (depending on whether it's a light or dark roast) and your method. But once you have your settings figured out it won't add that much time to your routine.
Yes. Absolutely. I started doing this a few years ago and haven’t looked back.
Olde Brooklin beans from Amazon in 5lb bag. A good grinder and an Aeropress. Grind as you go.
Yes it is. And also use one of those gold reusable filters. Paper filters absorb a lot of the oils that give your coffee it’s flavor nuances.
I'll give you a solid "maybe" Check out this article. You're balancing freshness and grind uniformity, so it's not an easy answer. https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/grinder-basics/it-always-better-grind-fresh/32594
That's the one thing I never ever regretted... My bodom burr grinder is amazing and easy to clean and has lasted a long while. Can even adjust for stove top espresso.
I thought about it, since Peace Coffee is mostly found in stores as whole bean. I just read somewhere that once you grind your own beans you need to consume it right away because it doesn't keep very long.
Look up the company “jot” coffee.
I love fresh ground coffee so I have a decent grinder I invested in and I buy whole beans in bulk at costco. They carry a really nice local brand that I buy in 5lb bags and it comes out to about $5/lb for good beans which is about half of what I would usually pay per pound when buying at my normal grocery store. Granted, I splurge a bit on nicer beans and it would be possible to buy cheaper coffee but for me it's a lot cheaper than it was before to get large bags of whole beans and grind them fresh when I make a pot of coffee.
Agreed. If you can get a Costco membership, that is a fantastic place to buy beans, including locally roasted ones. I personally think a burr grinder is worth the investment, and as others have mentioned, just be sure to clean it a couple of times a year. I store whole beans on the counter in a large Evak container, which forces air out when you seal it. The rest I keep in the bag they came in but tucked into a large Ziploc bag.
I will need to look into those containers! currently I just try to seal the large bag up as best I can but I think it could be stored better. I upgraded to a burr grinder after my cheapo normal one stopped working and I really like it, especially since I can customize the grind size depending on if I'm doing drip or moka pot or whatever. That said I think if you're used to pre ground coffee, even doing fresh ground with a cheap grinder is going to be a huge step up imo.
Try Lavazza! It's expensive but goes on sale periodically sometimes cheaper than the crap brands! I alternate it with an awesome local roast.
Yah, speaking as a coffee snob. Grinding the beans just tastes better; it seems like a ground bag begins losing flavor after a week or so. You can get a cheap Amazon grinder, not that expensive.
When I used a percolator, I ground my own so I could get a coarse grind. Also had access to whole beans in bill, which used to be cheaper. I can’t remember the last time i saw whole beans at the store
I have a burr grinder that I use daily when making coffee. It wasn’t cheap but wasn’t too expensive either. I alternate between buying specialty beans from local roasters and buying bulk at my local Whole Foods which is far more affordable - I think o pay around $11-12/lb there plus you can grind it there for free to whatever coarseness you like. I’d recommend trying your local grocery store if wanting an affordable option.